In Ithaca, Downtown really is down town. Nestled at the bottom of 50 mile long Cayuga Lake and surrounded on three sides by hills, the city center looks up to Cornell University and Ithaca College and the older suburbs. There was a long-sustained rumor that the Little Rascals filmed their boxcar hill run on one of the tree-lined streets that heads straight into town, and when you visit you'll see why that was a hairy ride.
Craft drinks in an elegant setting.
Locally owned (by many - it's a cooperative after all) organic food market with fantastic ready to eat options.
Really good local beer and really good local food. Really good.
Wide selection of instruments and sheet music.
Historic theatre with a great calendar of events.
Second-hand duds. Good stuff.
Where locals go for coffee.
Hands-on science museum for all ages.
Farm to table butcher with fantastic meats and charcuterie.
Six miles of wide trails accessing the beautiful lake frontage and waterways.
Another waterfall among many...
Great take out for warm nights, eat in during the winter.
Eclectic collection of all things sewing and knitting.
New and used outdoor clothing and gear, information hub.
Groovy vibe, nice people, beautiful items. And yes, it's a barbershop.
Names one of the thirteen most influential restaurants of the 20th century by Bon Appetit magazine. Curious?
Resale shop for the little people in your life.
Local theater in an old hangar.
Blissful city escape in the heart of downtown.
Used books, open late.
Toys for all ages.
Tasty tapas and excellent wine.
Ithaca's independent, cooperatively-owned book store.
A slice of New York City nestled over on West State Street.
Elegant bar food, cocktails, and trivia.
Find a thoughtful gift in a curated collection of American Crafts.
A beautiful collection of artisan crafts.
A hip boutique specializing in vintage, indie, and modern clothing.
A Thoughtful Selection of Wine and Spirits
Everything you need to live green.
Get some delicious, locally-sourced ramen, dumplings, salads, and pho.
Northstar House bills itself as a cozy neighborhood pub, but it's really more of a bistro specializing in a daily mac'n cheese dish, lots of local offerings and ingredients, and a great beer selection. The hip Star Wars/Day of the Dead artwork alone probably disqualifies it as a pub. It is a great place to go on a date or with a crowd of friends, especially when you can sit in the beer garden. That said, it does have a bunch of locals who eat there regularly (is that the definition of the neighborhood pub?), and the bar is a great place to hang out. The wait can be long, but happily the beautiful Ithaca Falls is a short two block walk away. The Physics Bus lives on the street opposite the parking lot and is worth checking out too.
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